At the end of July, I got to spend a week in the beautiful state of New Mexico working with the people of the Navajo Nation. I was able to take part in this experience through the University of Findlay of Findlay, OH. I am a current student in their weekend bridge program for PTAs to complete their DPT. This schooling experience has been exciting, exhausting and life changing. Being in this program has given me multiple opportunities to give back to the PT community and my profession.

Having surgery can be an intimidating process. There are so many factors to consider: Is this procedure right for me? What do I need to do leading up to surgery? What do I need to do after surgery? What are realistic expectations? Often as patients, we enter into the initial appointment with our surgeons with wide eyes, absorbing only a fraction of what is said to us, and then walking out with only a fraction of the confidence we’d like to have.

If you’re going through physical therapy or considering physical therapy, here are a few tips to get the best outcome. These are general recommendations. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about specific recommendations.